Ole Miss Baseball Wins Game 3 vs. Morehead State, Secures First Sweep of 2024
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OXFORD, Miss. -- It was smooth sailing for the Ole Miss Rebels on Sunday afternoon, as they picked up their 12th win of the 2024 season over the Morehead State Eagles in game three of their weekend series. The 6-5 win gave Ole Miss its first series sweep of the year and capped off an explosive weekend at Swayze Field.
After outscoring Morehead State 23-4 on Friday and Saturday, the Rebels' bats cooled off on Sunday, but a strong showing Ole Miss' pitching staff kept the Eagles at bay. RHP Grayson Saunier started on the mound for Ole Miss, and made it through five innings of work, allowing three hits and one walk while also fanning three batters. It was a scoreless "Saunday" for the sophomore, and he has now allowed zero runs in two starts.
Freshman LHP Austin Simmons took over for Saunier in the top of the sixth, but struggled to find his groove in his only appearance of the weekend, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks. Simmons only made it 0.2 innings before he was replaced by RHP Mason Morris. Morris racked up two strikeouts in 1.1 innings, before RHP Josh Mallitz was put in to close out the game.
Mallitz ran into trouble in the top of the eighth, and allowed three runs, three hits, and one walk giving Morehead State a chance to steal game three. The junior powered through, however, and was trusted to finish the drill by coach Mike Bianco.
Offensively, the Rebels made their hay in the first four innings of play. Third baseman Andrew Fischer led Ole Miss at the plate with two hits, two RBIs, and one big-fly. Left fielder Ethan Lege had a good afternoon, racking up two RBIs and one homer on one hit. Designated hitter Will Furniss also hit his fourth home run of the season on Sunday.
The Rebels will now hit the road to take on the ULM Warhawks in Monroe on Tuesday. First pitch is set for 4:00 p.m. CT, and the game will be televised on SEC Network+.